VIRGIN LABFEST 13 ARTIST IN FOCUS: DINGDONG NOVENARIO

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                An IT specialist in Hewlett Packard and a gym instructor at Fitness First by profession, Kafatiran, a one-act play about a group of gay katipuneros, was his break as a playwright. However, Virgin Labfest 7 was not his first time in the festival. Back in 2008, he played a part in Terangati, back when the festival had a section devoted to stage adaptation of children’s works.

                This time, his play Nothing But Dreams is part of Set D, to be directed by Carlos Siguion-Reyna. “I loved how the play Clybourne Park was made as a sort of spin-off Raisin in the Sun, so I made this as a sort of spin-off of Clybourne Park. This is about a girl bringing a colored man back home to her family, which is basically Look Who's Coming To Dinner in a very Filipino setting,” he explained.

                Incidentally, his play about cultural diversity boasts of a powerhouse cast identified with different theater companies: Audie Gemora (Repertory Philippines / Rep), Madlen Nicolas (Dulaang UP), Thou Reyes (PETA) and Lhorvie Nuevo (Tanghalang Pilipino).

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              A self-confessed Rep fan back when the company was staging plays in Shangri-la mall, his first foray into writing for theater was when he was in first year high school. He co-wrote a piece inspired by Into the Woods for his English class. He admits that watching those plays inspired him early on to become a writer. He finds it “to be most fulfilling and least nerve-wracking.”

                Top three local playwrights he looks up to are Rody Vera, Nick Pichay, and Layeta Bucoy.

                The schedules of Set D are July 1/6/11/15, 3 pm, and July 1/5/9/14, 8 pm. Tickets may be bought at the CCP Box Office or via Ticketworld (891-9999).

Photo from Tuxqs Rutaquio's FB account